ButtonDown.Com: Wrestle Heist

 ButtonDwon.Com: Wrestle Heist

ButtonDown.Com: Billy Bat vol 1 by Naoki Urasawa

 ButtonDown.Com: Billy Bat vol 1 by Naoki Urasawa

Scott's Take: The Bat-Man: Second Knight by Mike Perkins (Author/Illustrator)

The Bat-Man: Second Knight by Mike Perkins is a follow up to The Bat-Man First Knight and is set in the same universe. The plot synopsis online for the trade is only somewhat accurate in my opinion. The car crash does not involve Batman despite what is stated. There is no cult. I did not realize the guy in purple was supposed to be the monk. I don’t think they even call him that.

 

The actual book is about the Scarecrow and a guy in purple killing people and spreading fear gas across Gotham. Set sometime when Germany is marching across Europe at the beginning of World War II, Batman is attempting to stop the killing. He is also with his very scared girlfriend who is back in town to participate in the premier of her new movie.

 

Lois Lane and Clark Kent are also in town for the premier. It is also not long before they are victimized by Scarecrow’s plan. In the wake of that attack, Clark is quickly able to figure out Bruce has his own secrets. Can they find a way to trust each other and work together to stop the attacks?

 

There is action, horror elements, vivid art, and a classic old school Superman. In this story, Superman is way weaker than he is now. He can’t fly. He just jumps really high. Bruce is more of an average man in this story. Jim Gordon is a veteran of World War 1 and has his own fears to deal with as related to gas attacks. This book gave me a new appreciation for how scary gas attacks are. There is a lot of historical elements drawn in to each character’s backstory.

 

I enjoyed this period piece. I hope the series continues, but there is no word at the time of writing this review in early May if it will.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3R4bdTq

 

I read this by way of Hoopla through the Dallas Public Library System.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Scott's Take: Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong 2 by Brian Buccellato and Illustrator Christian Duce

 

Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong 2 by Brian Buccellato, illustrated by Christian Duce is the sequel to Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong. In this story, Amanda Waller has decided to take the Suicide Squad to Legendary Earth (Godzilla and friends (King Kong, Mothra, and others). She has come up with the brilliant idea to steal the DNA of the Titans (giant monsters) and turn it into a serum. She then injects that into super criminals  making them giant feral creatures to enforce her world.

 

Of course, the Justice League realizes this is a really bad idea and decide to stop her. Unfortunately, the DC Universe heroes are outmatched because two of their heaviest hitters, Supergirl and Superman, do not get the solar power they need to be as strong as usual on this planet. So, they may need the serum themselves to even the odds…

 

This is action packed adventure with solid art work and decent character work. There is a lot of science fiction concepts in this tale at work. If you want to see Batman piloting a giant mech or Superman fighting Godzilla then this is the book for you.

 

I think the first one was better, but this is still a fun read. There is setup for another book in the series, but we will see if that happens, Part of the ending was deliberately vague, which was very annoying, and that couple be the springboard for a new read.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Pz9vsK

 

I read the first 4 issues through DC Infinite App and the last three through Hoopla by way of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

ButtonDown.Com: Dads & Daughters: Ginger's Revenge

 ButtonDown.Com: Dads & Daughters: Ginger's Revenge

ButtonDown.Com: Dads & Daughters: Snow Angel by Kurtis J Wiebe & Tyler Jenkins

 ButtonDown.Com: Dads & Daughters: Snow Angel by Kurtis J Wiebe & Tyler Jenkins

ButtonDown.Com: Two Dead by Van Jensen and Nate Powell - review

 ButtonDown.Com: Two Dead by Van Jensen and Nate Powell - review

ButtonDown.Com: No Man's Land by Szymon Kudranski

 ButtonDown.Com: No Man's Land by Szymon Kudranski

Scott's Take: Batman: Dark Patterns by Dan Watter and illustrated by Hayden Sherman

 

Batman: Dark Patterns by Dan Watter, illustrated by Hayden Sherman, is a read that I read through Hoopla and the DC Universe Infinite App. This is a twelve-issue miniseries where each of the four separate story arcs contain three issues each. These stories are set in Batman’s early career.

 

These tales are supposed to be grounded street level mysteries which means they are not supposed to have supernatural, space aliens, or other fantastical elements. Yet, there are implications in the read that those elements are, in fact, very much present. The read does not match the plot synopsis marketed with the book. This is a mystery series with some horror elements.

 

My favorite of the four separate story arcs was the second one. The tale was clearly inspired by the movie, The Raid. (A way better movie than the sequel.) In the story arc, Batman has to fight his way through an entire apartment building full of people to solve the mystery at the heart of that story.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this miniseries even if each story arc is a bit rushed. If you are looking for some less fantastical Batman reading than the normal fare, this is a book for you.

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/48nIbUA

 

Some of this I read by way of the Hoopla App through the Dallas Public Library System and some by way of the DC Universe Infinite App.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Scott's Take: Absolute Superman Vol 2: Son of the Demon by Jason Aaron, and artists Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Fico Ossio

 

Absolute Superman Vol 2: Son of the Demon by Jason Aaron, and artists Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Fico Ossio,  the second volume in the series and follows, Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton. The Lazarus Corporation is still after Superman, but he has potential new allies in the Omega Men. But both sides want him to join them and destroy the other side. What will Superman do?

 

This is a violent and brutal volume with multiple torture scenes and lots of action. The art continues to impress. I continue to like this version of a more alien Superman. This series will continue with Volume 3, untitled right now, and which will introduce Toyman, Parasite, and Lex Luthor.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/41292kX

 

I read some of this through the Hoopla App by way of the Dallas Public Library System and some through the DC Universe Infinite App.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: TYLER CROSS: ANGOLA

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: TYLER CROSS: ANGOLA: Tyler Cross:  Angola , written by Fabien Nury, with art  by Bruno and colors by Laurence Crook, 2019; originally published in French in 2014...

Scott's Take: Absolute Flash Vol 1: Of Two Worlds by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles (Illustrator)

 

Absolute Flash Vol 1: Of Two Worlds by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles (Illustrator) is a read in the Absolute Universe where The Flash is reimagined. In this universe, the legacy of The Flash is gone, there is no speed force, and Wally is on his own. After an accident at a government facility military brat Wally West became a speedster. Feeling overwhelmed by these new powers and dealing with the loss of his mother he went on the run. The government is going to track him down and bring him back. They want his powers at any cost. His father thinks he can control the situation and protect his son.  Of course, the government does not care about the boy. They just want his powers at any cost. They will bring him in either alive or dead.

 

The art is excellent. It’s also nice to read a Jeff Lemire title in the DC universe again. I like his writing, but he is mostly doing indie horror comics now, and I am just not a horror guy. I really like this new version of Grodd that is introduced in this volume. The Rogues are now government operatives instead of just bank robbers. They are now “the good guys” instead of the bad guys. This series will continue with Absolute Flash Vol 2: Still Point.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4c2z2DF

 

 

I read the eBook copy of this through the DC Universe Infinite App.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Lesa's Book Critiques: Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Deborah Tang

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Deborah Tang

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Brownout Murders by Luke C. Jackson and Kelly Jackson, illustrated by Maya Graham

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Brownout Murders by Luke C. Jackson and Kelly ...:   Reviewed by Jeanne Melbourne, Australia, 1942. In a world at war, people struggle with ways to stay safe.   Australians have been warn...

Scott's Take: Bug Wars Book One: Lost in the Yard by Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar (Illustrator), Matt Wilson (Colorist), and Becca Carey (Designer)

  

Bug Wars Book One: Lost in the Yard by Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar (Illustrator), Matt Wilson (Colorist), and Becca Carey (Designer) is a weird book. I am not sure who the intended audience is. It’s sort of Game of Thrones-ish, sort of Conan-is, sort of a lot of fantasy adventure deals. No matter what you try and compare it to, the deal is told from a kid’s perspective of life among the bugs with bug worldbuilding pages by his dad. It is weird.

 

A kid and his family are forced to move to his deceased dad’s place. Slade has inherited his father’s love of bugs. Sydney, his brother,  has an intense hatred of them and blames them for the death of their father. During an argument between the two, Slade is shrunk to the size of a bug and winds up outside the home. He is now stuck in bug world. A word that is remarkably like his own normal world. He now seeks to survive, get back to normal size, and return home. He also wants to uncover why his father died and protect his brother from the bugs vengeance.

 

There is nudity, bestiality, violence, cussing, torture, slavery, and way more. This is a very adult book that, for some reason, stars a child protagonist. It is not ever clear if he is a pre teen or a little older. The read also comes across to this reader as two different books stuck together. Some aspects of it seems forced.

 

The art is excellent, even though most of the humanoid insects end up looking basically human except for some minor changes. The world building is interesting, even if the bug facts were disgusting and made me hate bugs even more. There is a larger world built up.

 

Major Spoiler---the book synopsis claims Slade will uncover the truth about his father’s death. That does not happen at all. Maybe the sequel will explain. The book raises more questions than answers.

 

There will be a second book and a one shot about the witch spiders released at some point. How it will be collected has yet to be announced. The title of the second story arc is The Fellowship of The Fucked-Up. Clearly a play on the Lord of The Rings series.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4taWpRB

 

My paperback reading copy came from the Vickery Park Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Scott's Take: Resurrection by Derek Landy

 

Resurrection by Derek Landy is the tenth book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, but it is a relaunch point, so it is supposed to be a fresh start. I read this book through the Hoopla App by way of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

In this book, Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery reunite several years after the ninth book. Valkyrie Cain is suffering from PTSD, but has finally returned to Ireland alongside her dog Xena. Skulduggery convinces her to return to duty for just 24 hours to help him stop the resurrection of an ancient evil. They also need someone to go undercover and infiltrate the group that is recruiting at the local magical high school.

 

In a satire of Harry Potter, they recruit Omen Darkly, the Chosen’s One’s brother. Often overlooked and used to being forgotten, he is the perfect spy since no one notices him or cares about him besides his brother, some of the teachers, and his best friend, Never.

 

There are plenty of new characters since most of the previous cast of the nine previous books are benched. A satire of Donald Trump is also introduced, but I found it too accurate to the real deal to really find it funny at all. There is plenty of action, humor, and character development.

 

Skulduggery Pleasant’s past is explored more and secrets he has kept are revealed. I liked the relationship between Auger (the Chosen One) and Omen his brother. I do wish the event’s involving Auger, who is clearly a hero doing heroic things, were better fleshed out and filled. Even if it is funny that characters will run across him while he is fighting monsters with his friends.

 

The 11th book in the series is currently in my TBR pile through Hoopla, Midnight picks up after Resurrection. According to the Hoopla’s plot synopsis paraphrased-- A serial killer has abducted Alice (Valkyrie Cain’s sister) and it’s up to Valkyrie and friends to save her. Valkyrie has not been in touch with Alice that much after what she had to do in the ninth book to save the world. Valkyrie will have to confront her past if they stand a chance on saving Alice. 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/49vwif0

 

 

I read this book through the Hoopla App by way of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Spider-Verse vs. Venomverse by Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom with Luciano Vecchio (Illustrator, Cover Art) and, Jim Towe (Illustrator)

 

Spider-Verse vs. Venomverse by authors Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom with Luciano Vecchio (Illustrator, Cover Art) and, Jim Towe (Illustrator), is a miniseries where the Spider-Man of various universes go to war against the Venoms of various universes. The trade, which will come out in January, will collect the Web of Spider-Verse, Web of Venomverse prequels, and the main series. I read this through the Marvel Unlimited App.

 

The entities that individually control each groups have suddenly decided that the other entity and their group must die. So, each entity selects a team of heroes from each group and forces those selected to fight to the death to save their group.

 

The Spider-Verse team is led by the main Spider-Man (Peter Parker of Earth 616), and includes Spider-Ham (a cartoon pig that was bitten by a radioactive Spider), a super solider, and others. They must go against the symbiote team. A team that is led by an Eddie Brock Venom that murdered the Peter Parker of its universe and now tries to be a hero.

 

The prequels are not very relevant to the main series and just are used for backstory for some characters who show up. For example, based on the prequel, one would think that a vampire Spider-Man was going to play a big role in this series. Instead, despite getting a lot of pages in a prequel, it just shows up for the big fight at the end. This happens quite a lot with a number of such characters that just show up in the big fight at the end. A lot of the prequel characters only exists to fill big fight at the end.

 

The art, across the board, is just okay at best. This is an action-adventure style deal that tries to take itself seriously, but as a reader, one knows they are not going to wipe out a whole group of heroes. The ending is pretty predictable so the read is just a fun time where one gets to see these two groups fight. So, if you are a fan of either group you might enjoy this title as long as you just treat as a not a serious read.

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4aun9FK

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Scott's Take: Cyberpunk 2077: Psycho Squad by Dan Watters, Kieran McKeown (Illustrator), and Giada Marchisio (Illustrator)

  

Cyberpunk 2077: Psycho Squad by Dan Watters, Kieran McKeown (Illustrator), and Giada Marchisio (Illustrator) is a short four issue series set in the Cyberpunk 2077 world. In this dystopia, humanity is ruled by corporations and people have become increasingly cybernetic. Sometimes people cut too much of their organics off and replace them with robot parts and end up losing their minds. When that happens, they tend to go on murder sprees as they are super powered invincible super soldiers that slaughter civilians and cops alike.

 

To stop these rampages, Maxtac (cyborg cops themselves) are sent in to stop them. Unfortunately, Maxtacs tend to be just as violent and crazy as the psychos they allegedly are supposed to stop.

 

This book is basically a series of missions for one of those squad members as they attempt to function under the leadership of a new leader. The overarching problem is that their new leader is just as nuts as the enhanced people they are supposed to stop. Of course, things go badly for everyone involved.

 

This is a violent, dark book with mediocre art, and an ambiguines ending that is pretty abrupt. Overall, this is a good read if you are familiar with the Cyberpunk 2077 universe and can follow all the slang they use.  If one is familiar with the Cyberpunk 2077 universe than you already know going in that things are not going to go well for the characters involved and you are just here for the car crash. I think if you are not familiar with this universe, you will not enjoy the book as much since they do not do a good job of explaining things to new readers. I think only fans of this universe will like this read. If you are familiar, I think this read is worth your time despite the caveats.

 

I read this through Hoopla, by way of the Dallas Public Library System, so I did not have to spend my eddies (the term cyberpunk uses for money).

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4pg4GQW

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Scott's Take: Power Rangers Prime Vol 1 by Melissa Flores and Illustrator Michael YG

 

Power Rangers Prime Vol 1 by Melissa Flores and Illustrator Michael YG is an Elseworlds read separate from the main Power Ranger universe. In this universe, the Power Rangers teamed up with the Eltrains (blue humanoid bald aliens) to stop a different alien invasion then the Eltrains refused to leave. They hunted down the Power Rangers and colonized the planet.

 

Now, many years later on a conquered Earth, a Red Ranger (Lauren) barely escapes a hunting patrol of Eltrains by hiding in a dumpster. Luckly for her, the alien who stumbles upon her hides the wounded ranger from the patrol. The wounded ranger wants to rescue her family from one of the Eltrains detention centers. Along the way she makes friends with various characters. While she is recovering from her injuries. Rita Repulsa escapes her prison, and seeks to strike back against the Eltrains.

 

So, in this universe Rita Repulsa (the long-time villain of the Power Rangers universe is a mentor to the new Rangers). I really enjoyed the Red Ranger and Rita characters. The other 4 main characters did not grow on me.

 

This is a very short read as only 4 issues are collected and the read ends abruptly. The art is really good and this universe is a deep dive of the Power Ranger mythology. It is a fun fast paced read with some action and humor.

 

I am not sure how old the characters are supposed to be. I think college age since two of the characters are living together, but I am not sure. There are at least two more volumes planned. I am looking forward to reading more of this universe. Hopefully, they can flesh out the other Rangers more and flesh out the bad guys more. So far, the Eltrains are just generic alien overlord villains.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3ISz6K3

My print reading copy came from the White Rock Hills Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2025

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Creepy Cat by Cotton Valent

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Creepy Cat by Cotton Valent:   Reviewed by Jeanne I love cats and I like creepy (not horror) so this title was a natural for me. A young woman named Flora moves into...